Page 35 of The Fake Affair

“Louis is done with surgery. Says he’ll be home in an hour.” She has that look in her eyes that always means trouble. “Which gives us just enough time to go through some old photos. I found them while unpacking.”

“Audrey, no,” Logan protests.

“Audrey, yes.” She grins wickedly. “You can’t honestly expect me to ignore the fact that my best friend is dating my brother—even if it isn’t real. The same brother, might I add, who once threatened to have my entire sorority investigated because he thought they were a bad influence on me.”

“They were doing bloody body shots off the house mother’s grandson!” Logan protests.

“That was my idea, actually,” I admit.

The look on his face is priceless. “You what?”

“Oh, there’s so much you don’t know about your girlfriend,” Audrey says sweetly. “Good thing I kept evidence.”

“Oh, wait,” I call out. “Am I in those photos?”

Audrey chuckles and just disappears into the study. I turn to Logan. “Just remember, whatever she shows you, I was young and in college.”

“Should I be worried?”

“Terrified.”

Audrey returns with what looks like every photo album from the past decade. “This,” she announces, settling on the couch between us, “is going to be fun.”

“Define fun,” Logan mutters.

The first album is from our college days. I groan at the sight of my freshman self, all bad highlights and questionable fashion choices. “Why do you still have these?”

“Blackmail,” Audrey says cheerfully. “Oh look, here’s the body shot incident!”

Logan leans in despite himself. “Christ, it really is the house mother’s grandson. What’s his name again?”

“Brett,” Audrey and I say together, then burst out laughing.

“He was pre-med,” I explain. “He was just teaching us anatomy.”

Logan’s eyes darken slightly. “I’m sure he was.”

“Okay, enough of that.” Audrey flips through more pages. “Here’s graduation. Remember how Dad promised to come?”

“And sent a card instead,” Logan finishes. “With the wrong year on it.”

I remember holding Audrey while she cried that day and how Logan had shown up at our apartment with expensive whiskey and take-out. He stayed until she fell asleep and then helped me clean up without a word.

“You were there, though,” Audrey says softly. “Both of you.”

The next album is more recent—photos from her wedding planning. There’s one of Audrey and me at her dress fitting, both of us crying.

“I’m glad I had you both that day.” Audrey pulls out a loose photo of Logan walking her down the aisle while I wait at the altar as maid of honor. “My two favorite people.”

I smile at her.

“Who are now dating,” she adds after a pause. “Which is still strange to think of, by the way.”

I need a break from the intensity of her stare. “Bathroom,” I announce, standing quickly.

On my way back, I hear voices from the kitchen. I know I should make my presence known, but something in Logan’s tone makes me pause.

“—just don’t want her hurt,” Audrey’s saying. “This thing between you...”

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